Arena Swim reached an agreement to supply technical equipment for the next two seasons to the University of California, Berkley (Cal) mens swimming and diving team, one of the United States most respected college swimming programs.
The Cal mens swim team currently features some of the most widely recognized swimming talents in the world, including 2009 NCAA champion in the 50 and 100 free Nathan Adrian, considered among the top freestylers in the world. Adrian is the defending world champion in 100-meter (short course) freestyle. Recently, Adrian represented the USA squad this past December at the “Duel in the Pool” in Manchester, England, winning both the 50 (20.71) and 100-meter (short course) freestyle (45.42) wearing an Arena X-Glide suit. His time in leading off the 400-meter freestyle relay (short course) of 45.08 established him as the fastest man in the world in that event for 2009.
Alongside Adrian, the Golden Bears have Slovenian standout Damir Dugoniic, the 2009 NCAA champion and current NCAA record-holder in the 100-yard breaststroke (50.86). Another outstanding breaststroker for Cal is senior Sean Mahoney, who was the NCAA runner-up in the 200 breaststroke in 2009, narrowly missing an NCAA title. Additionally, the Bears have talented individual medley swimmers in Estonians Martti Alijand, the 2009 Pac-10 champion in the 200 IM (1:43.21), and Martin Liivamagi, who owns the Cal school record in the 400 IM (3:43.55). All told, Cal boasts 12 athletes who finished the 2009 long course season ranked within the Top 40 in the world in their respective events.
Several other champions have studied and trained at the University of California; including Matt Biondi, winner of eight Olympic medals; Milorad Cavic, the current 50-meter butterfly world champion and Arena Elite team member; and Duje Draganja, the 50-meter short course freestyle world champion.
Heading up the Bears swimming program is Dave Durden, 34, who is in his third season at Cal. Prior to arriving in Berkeley, Durden was the head coach at Maryland for two seasons and after spending five years at powerhouse Auburn, where he was part of a staff that won six national titles (men and women) over a four year stretch.
“After having already signed Auburn, this partnership with one of the most prestigious and historical universities in the United States represents another great achievement for Arena in the general framework of the brands coming back to the U.S. market,” said Giuseppe Musciacchio, Arena Marketing Director. “We are back as a Cal sponsor, just like we were during the 1979 and 1980 seasons when the Bears won their last NCAA titles. We wholeheartedly believe in the University and coach Durdens plans, which are aimed at building a solid, winning team with a strong group of athletes consisting of young, as well as more experienced, talents.”
“Arena is the perfect company for us,” said Durden. “They bridge our past successes as our sponsor during Nort’s (Thornton) first NCAA championships at Cal, to our future successes at the NCAA, national and international levels. We are with Arena because, not only do they have the pulse of the technological advancements that are occurring in our sport, but more importantly, they have the pulse of world class athletes. We could not be happier to be a part of the Arena family.”
